Steamer and soda-dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A steamer and soda-dispensing system includes an enclosed housing having removable side panels and is provided with rollers for portability. A handle is mounted on an upper portion of the housing to facilitate manual control and movement of the housing. Pressurized, soda containers are positioned inside the housing and feed soda through a cooling unit to a manually operated dispensing faucet. A burner and an associated fuel tank are located inside of the housing and facilitate the heating of a steaming unit for cooking hot dogs and the like. A cup dispenser and facilities for supporting mustard and catchup containers are included with the housing.

O United States Patent m1 3,677,173

Fogle, Jr. et al. 51 July 18, 1972 s41 STEAMER AND SODA-DISPENSING3,232,489 2/1966 Buffington... ......222/1os SYSTEM 3,289,664 12/1966Hewitt 126/37 3,327,902 6/1967 Alterwitz ..222/l46 X [721 Dunmumy3,566,769 3/1971 Le Fever ..99/2ss Road; Joseph B. Jason, 3018 LibertyParkway; Richard A. Head, 2239 Searles Road, Prim Ex ry ammer ter A.Scheel of Bammore 21222 Assistant Examiner-Atthur 0. Henderson [22]Filed: Aug. 3, I970 Attorney-Walter G. Finch A steamer andsoda-dispensing system includes an enclosed "99/357, 126/ housing havingremovable side panels and is Provided with rol lers for portability. Ahandle is mounted on an upper portion [58] 1 3g of the housing tofacilitate manual control and movement of I I 1 l the housing.Pressurized, soda containers are positioned inside the housing and feedsoda through a cooling unit to a manually operated dispensing faucet. Aburner and an associated fuel [56] Remus cm tank are located inside ofthe housing and facilitate the heat- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing of asteaming for cooking hot dogs and the like. A cup dispenser andfacilities for suppomng mustard and catchup 2,948,798 8/ I960 Ness[26/37 X containers are induded with the housing 3,083,450 4/1963 Harvey..99/2B8 3,155,212 ll/l964 Hines ..99/290 X lllClalms, 2 Drawing Figures1 i 1 WW1 e 40 g r i i o o Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORS WILLIAM A. FOGLE JR.

JOSEPH B. JASON RICHARD A. HEAD Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet SSTEAMER AND SODA-DISPENSING SYSTEM This invention relates generally to asteamer and sodadispensing system, and more particularly it pertains toa portable unit for transporting and dispensing soda and steaming hotdogs and the like.

During athletic contests, parades and other types of events where crowdsof people gather, it is common to see vendors selling soda and hot dogsto the people. However, the equipment used to transport the soda and hotdogs are separate, bulky and heavy. Many vendors are required to coverrelatively small areas and usually must make several trips to a centrallocation to replenish depleted supplies of soda and food. In addition,the present units are restricted to the handling of one item, soda orfood. For example, portable soda dispensers are rare and the vendorsusually carry the soda in cups with ice rather than transporting adispenser. Hot food units are available, but are bulky, heavy, anddifficult to manage.

Due to the disadvantages of the individual soda dispensers and the hotfood units, the combining of such presently available units would onlycompound the handling difficulties and would require additional vendorsto maneuver and operate the combined units. In addition, where vendorsare required to move over rough and uneven terrain, the handlingproblems become almost insurmountable.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a portable,easy to handle steamer and soda-dispensing system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unit for supporting asoda-dispenser and a cooker for portability to permit a vendor to moveabout with relative ease while selling cold soda and cooked foods suchas hot dogs and the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a portable steamerand soda-dispensing unit which can be moved over relatively roughterrain by a single operator.

A further object of this invention is to provide a steamer andsoda-dispensing unit which is easily dismantled and reassembled tofacilitate cleaning of and replacing of parts for the unit.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and understood from the following detailedspecification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steamer and sodadispensing unitincorporating features of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steamer and sodadispensing unit withportions of the structure broken away and other parts of the structureremoved for clarity.

As illustrated in FIG. I, a steamer and soda-dispensing unit includes abox-like frame 12 supported on a pair of large rubber wheels 14 onopposite sides of a rear portion thereof and small rollers 16 on theunderside of a front portion thereof. A handle 18 is mounted on a rear,upper portion of the frame 12 to facilitate manual maneuvering of theunit 10. Panels are mounted in the side portions and a floor is mountedin the base of the frame 12. The frame 12 also supports an easilyremovable front panel 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a rear panel 22 is mounted removably in therear of the frame [2 and can be easily removed to permit access to anenclosure or housing formed by the frame, floor and the front, rear, andside panels. The panel (FIG. I) is formed with a handle 24 (FIG. 1) topermit easy insertion and removal of the panel into and out of,respectively, a slot 26 formed in the forward, vertical portion of theframe 12. The rear panel 22 is provided with similar facilities andmounted similarly to facilitate easy movement of the panel relative tothe frame 12. The maneuverability of the panels 20 and 22 permits readyaccess to the enclosure or housing for storage purposes or replacementof facilities within the housing.

A soda-dispensing and cooling system 30 is mounted on a portion of anupper level of the frame 12 and is supplied soda from a plurality ofpressurized containers 32 through a tube 34. The containers 32 areconnected in a conventional manner to supply soda upon demand throughone or more tubes represented by the tube 34. It is to be understoodthat this arrangement is well known and head not be explained in detail.

The tube 34 is connected to an inlet connector of a commerciallyavailable cooling unit 38. The cooling unit 38 includes a coil-type,soda-circulating system which is surrounded by ice to cool the soda asit passes through the system.

A manually controlled faucet 40 provides a soda outlet for the cooledsoda from the cooling unit 38. A supply of cups 42 are mounted on theside of the frame 12 adjacent to the faucet 40 and within a storagedispenser 44 which normally urges the cups upwardly. This provides easyaccess for the vendor when soda is being served. A drain plate 46directs spillage of the soda into a funnel system which includes at thebase thereof a disposal tube 48. The tube 48 thereby directs overflowand spillage of soda away from the steamer and soda-dispensing unit 10.

A steamer 50, or hot dog cooking system, is mounted in another portionof the upper level of the frame 12 and includes a commercially availabledouble-doored, steaming unit 52 which includes a middle tray forsupporting foods, such as hot dogs, to be prepared by steam. Water isplaced in the unit 52 below the tray and a cork-type float arrangementis visible externally of the unit to provide an indication of the waterlevel to the vendor-operator of the unit 10.

The cooking system 50 further includes a burner 54 which is mounted on ashelf within the housing of the unit 10 and directly below, but spacedfrom the bottom side of the steaming unit 52. A removable gas-fuelcontainer 56 of a relatively well known, lightweight size is connectedthrough a tube to the burner 54. The container 56 supplies the fuel,such as propane, necessary to provide the flame which heats the water inthe steaming unit 52 and thereby steam-cooks the food.

A partition 58 is mounted on the external upper side of the housing andseparates the soda-dispensing area from the hot dog serving area toprevent spillage of the product of one area into the other. A pair ofopenings 60 are formed in a rear. upper surface of the housing toprovide support for the mustard and catchup container. This provides aneasily accessible area for applying food dressing to the hot dogs asthey are served by the vendor-operator.

The entire structure of the steamer and soda-dispensing unit 10 is madeof lightweight, sturdy metals, such as aluminum and stainless steel. Anexample of the size of the typical unit 10 would be 24 inches wide, 28inches deep, and approximately 33% inches in height. The enclosure ofthe housing provides substantial storage area for supplies such as sparesoda containers 32, hot dogs, rolls, cups 42 and other necessities tomaintain continuous operation of the unit 10 for long periods of timewithout returning to a central supply location.

The large rubber wheels 14 permit the unit 10 to be tilted back formovement from one location to another so that the vendor-operator canmove about freely without restrictions of terrain and distance. Thelightweight features and easy disassembly of the components of the unit10 provide a system which is easy to clean and maintain.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

I. A steamer and soda-dispensing system, comprising, selfcontained meansfor steaming foods to cook the foods for edible consumption,self-contained means for dispensing soda into a container, means forsupporting the steaming means and the soda-dispensing means commonly toprovide ready access to the steaming means and the soda-dispensing meansfor a vendor, portability means for permitting the system to be movedabout with ease to serve soda and steamed foods to individuals indifferent locations, and self-contained means enclosed independently ofsaid supporting means for cooling the soda only immediately prior to itsbeing dispensed.

2. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1, whereinthe means for steaming foods includes, a container partially filled withwater, a tray for supporting food located above the water, within thecontainer, a burner mounted below the container and internally of thesupporting means and a fuel supply contained within the supporting meanswhich supplies fuel to the burner from within the supporting means toprovide a flame for heating the water to produce the steam by acompletely self-contained fuel-burner system.

3. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1, whereinthe soda-dispensing means includes at least one pressurized container ofsoda and means for releasing selectively selected amounts of the sodafrom the container, said soda-cooling means being interposed betweensaid pressurized container of soda and said releasing means so that onlythe selected amounts of soda being released are cooled.

4. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1, whereinthe supporting means includes a box-like frame, panels assembled in thefront, rear and side sections of the frame, a floor assembled in theframe whereby the panels and the frame form an enclosure, and said framebeing formed with a slot in one planar portion thereof for receiving atleast one of the panels so that the received panel can be easily andcompletely withdrawn from the area of the frame to permit complete andfree access to storage areas and portions of the steaming andsoda-dispensing means.

5. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1,comprising, drainage means located means located adjacent to an areawhereat soda is dispensed into a container for collecting and directingaway from the system any excess soda which may result when soda isdispensed into a container, and means for preventing any portions ofexcess soda from spilling onto said steaming means.

6. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1, whereinthe portability means includes two large rubber wheels mounted on acommon axis and on lower, opposite sides of the supporting means near arear portion thereof and handle means mounted on a rear, upper portionof the supporting means where the handle means is used to tilt thesupporting means where the handle means is used to tilt the sup portingmeans to the rear about the axis of the wheels and where the largeside-mounded rubber wheels permit a vendor to move the system aboutfreely.

7. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim I, whereinthe soda cooling means includes a coiled soda-circulating systemsurrounded by ice which cools the soda as it passes through thesoda-circulating system on its way to being dispensed into thecontainer.

8. A self-contained steamer and soda-dispensing system, comprising, abox-like frame, panels assembled in the front, rear and side sections ofthe frame, a floor assembled in the base of the frame whereby the frame,panels and floor form an enclosure, a food steaming unit supported in aportion of an upper level of the frame, a soda-dispensing unit supportedin another portion of the upper level of the frame, a pressurizedcontainers of soda located within the enclosure and connected to thesoda-dispensing unit for supplying soda upon demand, a burner supportedwithin the enclosure adjacent to the steaming unit, a container of fuelcontained within the enclosure for providing fuel to the burner fromwithin the enclosure to facilitate heating of the steaming unit, saidframe being formed with a slot in one planar portion thereof forreceiving at least one of the panels so that the received panel iseasily removable to provide easy access to the enclosure.

9. A STEAMER AND SODAdisensing system as recited in claim 8, comprising,wheels mounted on the frame for providing portability of the system.

10. Asteamer and sodadisensing system as recited in claim 8, comprising,means supported in still another portion of the upper level of the frameand interposed in a soda flow path between the pressurized containersand the soda disensing unit for cooling only the soda being disensed.

10. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 8,comprising, means supported in still another portion of the upper levelof the frame and interposed in a soda flow path between the pressurizedcontainers and the soda dispensing unit for cooling only the soda beingdispensed.

i' l I. i

1. A steamer and soda-dispensing system, comprising, selfcontained meansfor steaming foods to cook the foods for edible consumption,self-contained means for dispensing soda into a container, means forsupporting the steaming means and the sodadispensing means commonly toprovide ready access to the steaming means and the soda-dispensing meansfor a vendor, portability means for permitting the system to be movedabout with ease to serve soda and steamed foods to individuals indifferent locations, and self-contained means enclosed independently ofsaid supporting means for cooling the soda only immediately prior to itsbeing dispensed.
 2. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited inclaim 1, wherein the means for steaming foods includes, a containerpartially filled with water, a tray for supporting food located abovethe water, within the container, a burner mounted below the containerand internally of the supporting means and a fuel supply containedwithin the supporting means which supplies fuel to the burner fromwithin the supporting means to provide a flame for heating the water toproduce the steam by a completely self-contained fuel-burner system. 3.A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein thesoda-dispensing means includes at least one pressurized container ofsoda and means for releasing selectively selected amounts of the sodafrom the container, said soda-cooling means being interposed betweensaid pressurized container of soda and said releasing means so that onlythe selected amounts of soda being released are cooled.
 4. A steamer andsoda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the supportingmeans includes a box-like frame, panels assembled in the front, rear andside sections of the frame, a floor assembled in the frame whereby thepanels and the frame form an enclosure, and said frame being formed witha slot in one planar portion thereof for receiving at least one of thepanels so that the received panel can be easily and completely withdrawnfrom the area of the frame to permit complete and free access to storageareas and portions of the steaming and soda-dispensing means.
 5. Asteamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim 1, comprising,drainage means located means located adjacent to an area whereat soda isdispensed into a container for collecting and directing away from thesystem any excess soda which may result when soda is dispensed into acontainer, and means for preventing any portions of excess soda fromspilling onto said steaming means.
 6. A steamer and soda-dispensingsystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the portability means includes twolarge rubber wheels mounted on a common axis and on lower, oppositesides of the supporting means near a rear portion thereof and handlemeans mounted on a rear, upper portion of the supporting means where thehandle means is used to tilt the supporting means where the handle meansis used to tilt the supporting means to the rear about the axis of thewheels and where the large side-mounded rubber wheels permit a vendor tomove the system about freely.
 7. A steamer and soda-dispensing system asrecited in claim 1, wherein the soda cooling means includes a coiledsoda-circulating system surrounded by ice which cools the soda as itpasses through the soda-circulating system on its way to being dispensedinto the container.
 8. A self-contained steamer and soda-dispensingsystem, comprising, a box-like frame, panels assembled in the front,rear and side sections of the frame, a floor assembled in the base ofthe frame whereby the frame, panels and floor form an enclosure, a foodsteaming unit supported in a portion of an upper level of the frame, asoda-dispensing unit supported in another portion of the upper level ofthe frame, a pressurized containers of soda located within the enclosureand connected to the soda-dispensing unit for supplying soda upondemand, a burner supported within the enclosure adjacent to the steamingunit, a container of fuel contained within the enclosure for providingfuel to the burner from within the enclosure to facilitate heating ofthe steaming unit, said frame being formed with a slot in one planarportion thereof for receiving at least one of the panels so that thereceived panel is easily removable to provide easy access to theenclosure.
 9. A STEAMER AND SODA-disensing system as recited in claim 8,comprising, wheels mounted on the frame for providing portability of thesystem.
 10. Asteamer and soda-disensing system as recited in claim 8,comprising, means supported in still another portion of the upper levelof the frame and interposed in a soda flow path between the pressurizedcontainers and the soda disensing unit for cooling only the soda beingdisensed.
 10. A steamer and soda-dispensing system as recited in claim8, comprising, means supported in still another portion of the upperlevel of the frame and interposed in a soda flow path between thepressurized containers and the soda dispensing unit for cooling only thesoda being dispensed.